The writer, Apoorvanand, has come to the conclusion that individual freedom has been restricted by the state by nitpicking assertions of state functionaries before courts in different cases (“We are not mere subjects of the state”, Dec. 20). His advocacy of political laissez faireism, where unfettered individualism is revered as an end in itself, appears nice as a theory. However it would lead to social disorder and chaos, if practised. Nowhere in the world do we see citizens enjoying unrestricted freedom of expression; there are always reasonable constraints. The arrest of a few activists does not imply that we have reached a stage where criticism of the state is considered blasphemy. On the other hand, the government received a lot of flak for detaining these five activists. The bottom line is that while zealously safeguarding their liberties, citizens have the responsibility to exercise their freedoms in a responsible manner. For instance, unqualified support for Maoists carries with it an implied endorsement of their avowed policy to overthrow the government through armed action.
V.N. Mukundarajan,
Thiruvananthapuram